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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Durham County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 74 public schools serving 44,920 students in Durham County, NC (there are 38 private schools, serving 6,733 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Durham County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Durham County, NC are J D Clement Early College High School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Research Triangle High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Durham County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Durham County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Durham County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Gr: 9-13 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #33.
Research Triangle High School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3106 East Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 998-6757
Gr: 9-12 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #44.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Gr: 6-8 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #66.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
Voyager Academy
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
101 Hock Parc Drive
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 433-3301
Gr: K-12 | 1,360 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #88.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #99.
Durham School Of Technology
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Gr: 9-13 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1010.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Gr: 6-8 | 660 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1111.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1212.
Mangum Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
9008 Quail Roost Road
Bahama, NC 27503
(919) 560-3948
Gr: PK-5 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1313.
Riverside High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3218 Rose Of Sharon Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3965
Gr: 9-12 | 1,900 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1414.
Central Park School For Children
Charter School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
724 Foster Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-1200
Gr: K-8 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1515.
Dps Hospital School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Dumc Room 3605
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-5684
Gr: PK-12
Rank: #1616.
Durham Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Gr: K-10 | 1,010 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1717.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1818.
Club Boulevard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
400 W Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3918
Gr: K-5 | 364 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1919.
Excelsior Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4100 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 213-8585
Gr: K-12 | 1,032 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2020.
R N Harris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1520 Cooper Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-3967
Gr: PK-5 | 313 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2121.
Discovery Charter
Charter School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
501 Orange Factory Road
Durham, NC 27722
(984) 888-5504
Gr: 6-11 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2222.
C E Jordan High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
6806 Garrett Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3912
Gr: 9-12 | 2,189 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2323.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2320 Cook Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3972
Gr: PK-5 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2424.
Northern High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4622 N Roxboro Street
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3956
Gr: 9-12 | 1,281 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #2525.
E K Powe Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
913 9th Street
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3963
Gr: PK-5 | 454 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2626.
City Of Medicine Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Crutchfield Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2001
Gr: 9-13 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Forest View Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3007 Mount Sinai Road
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 560-3932
Gr: PK-5 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Little River Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2315 Snow Hill Road
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3940
Gr: PK-5 | 326 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2929.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Gr: 6-8 | 878 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #3030.
James E Shepard Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2401 Dakota Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3938
Gr: 6-8 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3131.
Spring Valley Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2051 Northern Durham Prky
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-2890
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #3232.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1417 Old Oxford Highway
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-2695
Gr: PK-5 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3333.
Nc Virtual Academy
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4220 Nc Highway 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 346-0121
Gr: K-12 | 3,482 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #3434.
Hope Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3005 Dixon Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3980
Gr: K-5 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #3535.
Global Scholars Academy
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
311 Dowd St
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-5903
Gr: K-8 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Show 39 more public schools in Durham County, NC (out of 74 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Durham County, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Durham County, NC include J D Clement Early College High School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Research Triangle High School.
How many public schools are located in Durham County?
75 public schools are located in Durham County.
What percentage of students in Durham County go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Durham County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Durham County?
Durham County public schools minority enrollment is 77% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Durham County are often viewed compared to one another?

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